Osun Defender History Corner: February 9 In Focus

Today, on the history corner, we take a trip in the realm of flashbacks and recall some events that marked this day.

February 9, 1555

Bishop of Gloucester John Hooper was burned at the stake for heresy.

February 9, 1621

Miles Standish was appointed as the first commander of the Plymouth Colony in North America.

February 9, 1825

The U.S. House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams as President after no candidate received a majority of electoral votes.

February 9, 1861

Jefferson Davis was elected as the Provisional President of the Confederate States of America.

February 9, 1870

The U.S. Weather Bureau was established.

February 9, 1942

The USS Normandie, one of the largest U.S. liners at the time, caught fire and capsized in New York Harbor during its conversion into a troopship.

February 9, 1945

The Battle of Manila began during World War II, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life in the city.

February 9, 1964

The Beatles made their first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” marking the beginning of “Beatlemania” in the United States.

February 9, 1971

The Sylmar earthquake, one of the largest in California’s history, struck the San Fernando Valley.

February 9, 1986

Halley’s Comet reached its closest point to the sun during its 1986 apparition.

February 9, 1996

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) declared an end to its 18-month ceasefire in Northern Ireland, leading to a resurgence of violence.

February 9, 2001

The American submarine USS Greeneville collided with a Japanese fishing vessel, the Ehime Maru, near Hawaii, resulting in the deaths of nine crew members of the fishing vessel.

February 9, 2013

A blizzard struck the northeastern United States, leading to widespread disruption and power outages.

February 9, 2016

North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test, claiming it was a hydrogen bomb.

February 9, 2018

SpaceX launched the Falcon Heavy, the most powerful operational rocket in the world, carrying a Tesla Roadster as a dummy payload.

February 9, 2020

The World Health Organization (WHO) named the disease caused by the novel coronavirus as COVID-19.

February 9, 2021

NASA’s Perseverance rover successfully landed on Mars, beginning its mission to search for signs of past life and collect samples for return to Earth.

February 9, 2022

Pope Francis met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, discussing the ongoing conflict with Russia and offering support.

February 9, 2023

The Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, officially began, featuring various sports and competitions.

Please note that these are just a few historical events that happened on February 9. History is full of numerous other significant events on this day, ranging from politics and warfare to cultural and scientific milestones.